Hello, this is Dr. Karin! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my five funny dogs, Poppy, Bailey, Koda, Ned and Fred.
All dogs are weird, right? I’m sure it’s not just mine. But me morning Certainly, make sure Fred is at the top of the spectrum of oddity. From his inexplicable social unrest to his adorable security donuts, there’s always something a little bit away from him when it comes to this little guy. And while Koda and Ned might prefer to lick their feet, Fred has an addiction to herself. He loves to lick the bed.
When he first started it, we assumed that food and drinks had spilled and he was dedicated to cleaning it (always helpful!). But over time I realized that, indeed, he had deleted all the traces of what was delicious, and whole bed. Still, almost every day, Fred can be seen licking this side or it, the front or back, and when he’s bored in bed he often moves to the couch.
There are many reasons why the dog licks things, whether it’s yourself, you or in the environment, but none of the usual suspects seemed to apply to Fred.
- Is he hungry? Well, that’s a bit difficult to eliminate. Because I don’t think he’s necessarily hungry, but he everytime i want to eat!
- Is he exploring his environment? Well, these items were quite constant in his world, so it’s hard to imagine him feeling the need to get used to the flavor of furniture every day.
- Is he doing it for caution? Aside from the occasional eyeroll or confused headshake, we don’t actually respond to his licking, so we can’t see him getting any positive reinforcements from us.
- Could it be anxiety-related behavior or a form of OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder)? I think this might be our most likely candidate.
Fred’s Social Anxiety
As far as we know him, Fred has an odd response to being the center of attention. On the one hand, he loves to play, hug and love, but the focus of scrutiny seems very uncomfortable. If you’re spending a little moment of looking at him in person, you can squeal, cower, smile and frown, curl into a nasty ball, or search for the comfort of a donut.
Fred is like a walking contradiction. At one moment he seems to actually turn himself inside out with the unbearable pressure of being seen, and the next he bounces back, uh, catching our attention. I can’t help but wonder if he lives in a state of constant conflict. Pay attention to me! But don’t look at me!
One thing is certain, and that’s why I, like all my pet parents, wonder what’s going on with his little brain. I hope it doesn’t start to feel too stressful on me.
If you have a theory about Fred’s strangeness or would like to share your strangeness, please contact us in the comments section below.
Until next time,
This article is part of Dr. Karin’s series with Five Dogs.
